Pre-Summit Workshop
Nau mai, haere mai ki When Cultures Meet Wānanga - Creating effective, unified inclusive workplace environments
Monday, 15 June 2026
Sarah Tocker
Director
Liminality
As workplaces grow more diverse through mergers, restructures, and collaboration across teams, leaders must navigate cultural difference with confidence.
The ability to operate effectively across cultures is now a core leadership capability. When organisational, professional, generational, or ethnic cultures come together, misunderstanding can arise. With intention, those same differences can strengthen performance and cohesion.
This interactive wānanga explores how culture shapes behaviour and expectations, and how leaders can align diverse strengths into a cohesive, high-performing team. Participants will leave with practical tools to build inclusion, clarity, and shared commitment in their workplaces.
Key Learning Objectives
Understanding How Culture Shapes Behaviour and Performance
Explore how visible and invisible aspects of culture influence leadership, communication, and expectations. Build awareness of your own cultural lens and its impact on others.
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Recognise visible and hidden dimensions of culture
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Identify how cultural assumptions shape behaviour and decision-making
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Increase self-awareness of your leadership style within diverse contexts
Navigating Organisational Culture Interactions
When organisations merge, restructure, or collaborate, cultural friction often follows. Learn how to surface assumptions, reduce misunderstanding, and create shared norms.
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Diagnose cultural alignment and tension points
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Understand power, hierarchy, and communication differences
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Build strategies for constructive integration rather than compliance
Leading Alignment and Commitment to a New Way of Working
Move from awareness to action by designing intentional alignment across diverse teams. Explore how leaders can create clarity, direction, and shared commitment during change.
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Facilitate conversations that surface expectations and values
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Create shared agreements across teams
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Strengthen trust and cohesion during cultural transition
Agenda
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Welcome and Framing the Day
9:00
Mihi and establishing a safe, inclusive learning space
Overview of the workshop themes and structure
Reflection: When have cultures met in your leadership experience?
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Understanding Culture in Practice
9:30
Exploring visible and invisible aspects of culture
Self-assessment: your cultural lens and leadership impact
Group discussion and shared insight
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Morning Tea
11:00
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Organisational Culture Interactions
11:30
What happens when corporate cultures merge or collide
Case examples and facilitated dialogue
Identifying alignment gaps and strengths
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Lunch
12:50
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Planning for Alignment and Commitment
1:30
Designing shared ways of working
Building clarity across diverse expectations
Action planning for your team or organisation
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Afternoon Tea
3:00
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Real-World Cultural Leadership Scenarios
3:20
Navigating cultural dilemmas in practice
Peer discussion and problem-solving
Final reflections and leadership commitments